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Experimental measurements of nitrogen remineralization in coastal waters 1
Author(s) -
Harrison William G.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
limnology and oceanography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.7
H-Index - 197
eISSN - 1939-5590
pISSN - 0024-3590
DOI - 10.4319/lo.1978.23.4.0684
Subject(s) - photic zone , remineralisation , nitrogen , ammonium , environmental chemistry , environmental science , oceanography , chemistry , dilution , nitrogen cycle , isotope dilution , phytoplankton , nutrient , geology , inorganic chemistry , mass spectrometry , physics , organic chemistry , chromatography , fluoride , thermodynamics
Ammonium remineralization was measured in the euphotic zone of two coastal areas using a 15 N isotope dilution technique. Remineralization fluxes were high in both areas and often exceeded assimilation fluxes. A strong positive correlation between ammonium remineralization and ammonium and carbon dioxide assimilation suggests a close coupling of photosynthesis and nitrogen recycling. Regenerative fluxes decreased with depth and with distance offshore, but to a relatively lesser extent than did assimilative fluxes. Turnover times for remineralzation of utilizable organic nitrogen were estimated to be from 3 to 16 clays. Size fractionation experiments and estimates from the literature suggest that microplankton (<183 µ cm) may have been the primary nitrogen remineralizers.